Embedded Files
Charlie Adams, Chris Castor, Thomas Crowder Sr., Jeff Gruber, Doug Holleman, M. Wayne House, J.T. Hurley, Ed Lane, Charles Maidon, Guy Mendenhall, Jennie Pegram, Carolyn Shannonhouse, Bill Taylor, Simon Terrell, Herb Young
Charles H. Adams (Class of '54): Adams is inducted into the Hall of Fame having been an athlete, coach and administrator. Adams, Class of '54, was a three sport standout, but is best known athletically for his basketball prowess.
In 1954, Adams helped Cary High to its second state basketball title and was an all-Eastern North Carolina selection.
Adams later attended East Carolina, where he was a three-year standout. In 1991, he was inducted into the East Carolina University Sports Hall of Fame.
As a coach, he led Cary to conference basketball titles in 1963 and 1964. Since 1984, Adams has been the executive director of the NCHSAA, only the fifth person to have served in that capacity in the 80 years the association has operated.
Christopher D. Castor (Class of '78): As a Cary High senior in 1977, Castor led the Imps to an 8-2 record, caught eight touchdown passes and was an all-state selection. Also, Castor played in the Shrine Bowl's North-South All-Star game. Castor was an outstanding track athlete as well. In 1978, Cary finished fourth in the state high school track meet. Castor scored all of of the team's points.
Castor went on to be named Atlantic Coast Conference football player of the year in 1982 and later played for the National Football League's Seattle Seahawks.
Upon retiring from the Seahawks, Castor returned to Cary and served as a football and track volunteer in 1989-90.
Thomas F. Crowder Sr. (Class of '53): Crowder was a three-sport standout. In 1952, Crowder scored 18 touchdowns and led the Imps to an 11-0 football record while earning honorable mention all-East honors.
As a senior on the Imps' 1952 basketball team, Crowder was a co-captain who averaged 18 points a game and led the team to a 25-1 record. He was Cary's first selection to the East-West All-Star team.
Crowder, who was a pitcher, catcher and outfielder on the baseball team, was named Cary's most outstanding athlete in 1952 and 1953.
Crowder later attended Wake Forest and played all three sports. He later served as president of the Cary High Imp Booster Club.
Jeffrey K. Gruber (Class of '74): Gruber was one of the Imps' greatest guards, who later helped UNC Charlotte to its only NCAA Final Four appearance in 1977.
Gruber averaged 20.1 and 24.9 points a game during his junior and senior years at Cary High. An all-Metro selection both years, Gruber went on to score 42 points in a NCHSAA Tournament game as a senior.
Gruber started in the same backcourt as Rocky Mount High's Phil Ford in the East-West All-Star game, scoring 22 points on 9 of 11 shooting.
As a role player at UNCC, Gruber set the single-season and career records for foul shooting percentage. The 49ers amassed four 20-win seasons and were 91-21 during his career. In 1976, UNCC lost in the NIT Final to Kentucky. A year later, UNCC lost to Marquette in the Final Four semifinals.
Douglas F. Holleman (Class of '41): Holleman led Cary High to its first state basketball championship in 1939. During his four years at Cary High, Holleman scored 1,012 points and led the Imps to 61 wins in 72 games.
Holleman also lettered in football, baseball and track. In football he was a first-team all-conference selection; in baseball he was a four-year starter at first base; and in track he competed in the 440, mile and high jump. Holleman later played semi-pro baseball and basketball, and officiated high school and college football and basketball.
M. Wayne House (Volunteer): Inducted into the Hall of Fame as a volunteer, House has worked behind the scenes of Cary High athletics for years.
House, Cary fire chief and American Legion Area I baseball commissioner, is an active member of the Cary High Imp Booster Club and has devoted many hours to the renovation of Cary High's baseball field and other athletic facilities.
James T. Hurley (Class of '38): Hurley is the only player in Cary High history known to play five years - 1934-38. From 1935-1938 he played center and led the team in scoring all four years. Hurley might be best known for scoring all of Cary's points in a 23-17 win over Garner in 1938. He was also featured in Ripley's Believe It Or Not.
After his senior season, Hurley played in an all-star game between Raleigh and Knightdale. Hurley scored 50 points as Raleigh won 58-50.
Edward B. Lane (Coach): Lane may arguably be Cary High's greatest athletic coach. Better known for his 11-year record of 72-27-7 and five conference championships in football, Lane also coached basketball, women's basketball and track and started the school's wrestling program. Also, Lane served as Cary High's assistant principal in 1968-69. In women's basketball Lane coached the Imps to two conference championships. In baseball the Imps won a conference championship and finished second four times. In track, more of the same - three conference titles and three conference runner-up finishes. In wrestling, Lane qualified 18 wrestlers for the state tournament.
Charles R. Maidon (Class of '56): Maidon is recognized as one of Cary High's greatest all-around athletes. Maidon was a three-year all-conference selection in baseball ,basketball and football. He went on to become a Little all-American football and baseball player at Elon College, before returning to Cary to coach the Imps in basketball from 1963-1973.
Guy Mendenhall (Class of '54): Mendhenhall was the cornerstone of Cary High's golden era of basketball. Mendenhall, who later came back to Cary to serve as the school's athletic director, was a major contributor to the Imps' 55-2 run between 1952 and 1954.
The Imps, led by Mendenhall, won a state title for only the second time in 1954.
Jennie Morris Pegrame (Class of '51): Arguably one of the greatest female athletes to have played at Cary High, Pegrame set Wake County women's basketball scoring records while at Cary.
During her four years at Cary High, she averaged 28 points a game including a 45-point performance against Apex as a junior and a 53-point performance as a senior. Pegram, who measured 5-feet 8 inches in height, went on to play for Hanes Hoisery, a women's AAU team that won a national championship.
Carolyn Shannonhouse (Coach) : Shannonhouse coached Cary High to three NCHSAA 4A Women's Final Fours in a four-year span - 1981, 1982 and 1984. The Imps finished second in 1981 and third in 1982 and 1984.
During the eight-year stay at Cary, Shannonhouse compiled a 125-60 record and served as an assistant coach in the 1985 East-West All-Star game.
Her tennis teams were also strong, posting an 85-26 mark. In 1979, she worked with the gymnastics team that won a state title. Shannonhouse currently is Assistant Executive Director for the N.C. High School Athletic Association.
William A. Taylor (Class of '61): Taylor lettered in three sports - baseball, basketball and football - and was named all-conference in each of the three sports in his junior and senior years.
In 1960, Taylor, a quarterback, was named to the all-Eastern North Carolina 2A All-Star team. In 1961, Taylor ran track and set the school record for the mile (4:40). Taylor was Cary High's athlete of the year twice and has since had his No. 11 retired. Taylor attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he was a three-year letterman from 1963-1965. Taylor was also a walk-on for the Tar Heels basketball team and played in 1961-62.
Simon F. Terrell (Coach): Terrell served Cary High coach and athletic director 1952-54. He coached the Imps to undefeated football season in 1952 and 1953. His basketball teams had a two-year record of 55-2 and won the state championship in 1954. He also led the Imps to the NCHSAA Playoffs in baseball in 1953 and 1954. Terrell later became the N.C. High School Athletic Association's fourth executive director.
Herbert C. Young (Class of '45): Young was inducted for his achievements as an athlete and volunteer. Young was a three-sport standout in baseball, basketball and football, and later became an outstanding athletic official. This Citizen of the Year was an outstanding young athlete in baseball, basketball, and football at Cary in the 40s.
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